Literacy matters more than ever

As standards of English among Scottish children remain woeful, Tim Luckhurst wonders if a return to old-fashioned ways is the answer

Scotland’s education minister, Peter Peacock, does not declare himself a fan of Monty Python’s Life of Brian. His attitude last week did, however, suggest that he has taken to heart the advice to “always look on the bright side of life”.

Having revealed that 49% of S2 pupils failed this year’s national writing test, 39% failed reading and 46% failed arithmetic, Peacock was under assault from several directions. The CBI said the results were damaging to children’s career prospects and alarming news for the national economy. Alan Smith, the president of the Scottish School Board Association, said: “Children are facing an uphill struggle in life if they are not confident about spelling, arithmetic and grammar.” Opposition politicians were predictably scathing.

Mr Peacock was having none of it. Results were better than in 1999. Performance was moving in the right direction. But the ministerial calm might have been disturbed by a